The beginning of a new year is one of the most popular times to look for a job.

But what if you have been out there looking for a long time? What if your hopes have been dashed again and again? What if you are beginning to lose energy and confidence in yourself? No matter how difficult the process and negative your feelings, this is the time to re-energize your efforts.

The following are 7 ways to regain your focus, boost your morale and revitalize your momentum.

Advertise on social media

Beyond the obvious networking on sites like LinkedIn and Facebook, blogs are a great way to showcase certain skill sets. An online presence can help applicants develop a brand identity. Leaving comments on a prospective employer’s blog is also a great way to grab a hiring manager’s attention.

Clean up your CV

Don’t lie on your CV. That includes inflated titles, incorrect dates meant to cover gaps in employment, team accomplishments attributed solely to the candidate, etc. Lying or misrepresentation on a resume is immediate cause for rejection.

Applying for every job you find isn’t always a good idea

Focus your search on jobs that you’re qualified for. You’ll have a better chance of getting selected for an interview. Sending out random resumes and cover letters is just going to be a waste of time. Come up with a target list of companies you’d like to work for and do your best to get noticed by them.

Story telling during a job interview is an excellent way to share your experience and skills

One way to show the employer what you’re actually like is to tell a story. When you’re asked questions during a job interview, relay the specific skills and experience you have, as well as how you handled the situations you’re asked about.

Get personal

Before you go on a job interview, find out everything you can about the people who are in charge of the hiring process at the company. Look them up on Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter, and get to know a little bit about them and their interests. This will help you to know what may impress them, annoy them, or where you may share a common interest that will help you to connect. In the interview, make an attempt to connect – be friendly, honest, and open to sharing a little about yourself as well. The more personal the connection you make and the more they like you as a person, the better chance you have at being chosen for the job.

Learning a little bit more about the decision makers in the hiring process will do nothing but help you.

Watch your body language

If you lack self-awareness and social skills, it shows. Even in the critical small talk before the interview, make eye contact, smile when appropriate, and look alert.

Failing to ask questions

To you, keeping a respectful silence may seem like appropriate behavior, but to employers, “It’s a big red flag”. If you’re not asking specific questions about your duties and the people you’ll be working with, the manager may think you aren’t really interested.

Network as much as you can

Stay in touch with the people you used to work with. You may be offered or made aware of a new position with your old firm if you maintain contact and haven’t burned any bridges with anyone important. They could even earn a referral bonus for bringing you back in to a different job with your old company.

Don’t forget to stay in touch with suppliers and customers you know from your former employer. They can provide you with great leads and, more importantly, great references when the time comes.

How long have you been job searching? What tips do you have from your experience? Tell us in the comments.

Myriam Balerio is the founder and writer of PA Privé. After kick starting her career as a PA and finding success as an assistant, Myriam later trained in digital and online marketing and has since combined the two disciplines in creating PA Privé, the platform through which she provides sage advice for those in the assistant profession and a network for like-mined PAs and EAs to connect. Born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Myriam has lived in London for over 10 years and currently lives in London with her husband and French bulldog.

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PA Privé is an exclusive portal that was created to address the needs of PAs and business professionals working for FTSE 250 companies and C-level decision makers. There hasn’t until now, been a platform for the Personal Assistant to access the quality content they have been searching for. PA Privé is soon to be a members only portal designed to deliver timely and consistent news and features, specifically relevant to the elite of the PA profession.